Bertrand's Townhouse

There are a lot of courses on James Knappett's creative surprise menu, but you'll be glad of it once you've tried such superb cooking. You’ll start in the lounge with drinks and accomplished canapés that set the tone for the evening, before being guided to your seat at the beautiful kitchen counter – where you can watch the chefs finish dishes close-up. Outstanding British produce is at the heart of the experience, with the seafood often proving a highlight, whether it's soft and smoky eel or fresh squid enhanced by a creamy lobster sauce.

Top restaurants never stop developing – and that’s certainly the case with Ikoyi. Founder and chef Jeremy Chan’s surprise tasting menu uses high-quality organic produce from the British Isles, married with global spices, to create dishes that are as unique and creative as they are bold and beautiful to behold – and they now display even greater levels of depth and complexity. Dishes like aged turbot with egusi miso or suya with creamed peas are bound to enthral, while the theatrically presented smoked jollof rice will always be one of the highlights.

Jun Tanaka’s restaurant may be centrally located on Charlotte Street, with its plethora of dining options, but this feels very much like a neighbourhood spot. Two floors of closely set tables and a relaxed, informal atmosphere help to create the feel of a lively bistro de-luxe. The menu is designed for sharing, although it can easily be enjoyed solo too. There's a discernible Mediterranean influence to the cooking, with the likes of sea bream carpaccio and wild garlic risotto on the menu.

Over the decades, few parts of London have seen more restaurants come and go than Charlotte Street, but one constant over that period has been David Moore’s Pied à Terre. Reinventions have kept things fresh over time, be that a new colour scheme or the embracing of plant-based cooking with a serious vegan offering. The classically based dishes are seasonal and colourful, showing off top-notch ingredients in harmonious combinations, such as Welsh lamb with basil, anchovy, girolles and a top-drawer red wine reduction with red currants.

There’s a sense of theatre to every element of Mourad Mazouz and Pierre Gagnaire’s 18th-century house of fun. As you climb the stairs up to The Lecture Room and Library, the anticipation grows, then stepping into the gloriously colourful and lavishly decorated room both inspires and excites – there really is no restaurant in London quite like this. The multi-dish cooking is also unique in the city, where perfectly seared Cornish wild turbot comes with clams and mango, along with a mosaic of its skirt; and succulent roasted leg of Welsh lamb is accompanied by sweetbreads and kidney, with its fi

Sister restaurant to Portland and Clipstone, this small bistro deluxe delivers intimate, relaxed surroundings in which to enjoy a menu based around classical French cooking. British Racing Green walls blend with simple polished wood, candle-lit tables and wicker chairs, while the semi-open kitchen brings a livelier atmosphere to one end of the room. Fine ingredients are used to excellent effect in bold, gutsy combinations that deliver simply delicious results; ensure you save room to finish with the greengage Tatin or the textbook Paris-Brest. Wine connoisseurs should look out for the 'Cellar

“We aim to prove that West African cuisine deserves its place in fine dining by highlighting its unique flavours and culinary traditions on its own terms,” says founder Aji Akokomi. With the help of some talented chefs, he is achieving that goal and then some. The kitchen adds a creative spin to recipes from across the region – be it Ghanaian abunuabunu, Senegalese yassa or Nigerian jollof rice – whilst retaining their original flavours and showcasing prime ingredients of superb quality in total harmony. Ask for a spot at the kitchen counter for a ringside seat.